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Difficulty: Easy

2 hours

About $25

Step 1: Lay out and cut the parts

Using a tape measure and straightedge, mark up some birch veneer plywood to make the two 12-by-12-inch top and bottom pieces and the two 11-by-12-inch sides. Also, mark up some lauan to make one piece that’s 12 by 12 inches and one that’s 11 by 11 inches. Clamp the plywood tightly to a worktable. Then, using a jigsaw (a handsaw or circular saw will also work), cut the four sides.

To parents: Here’s a chance to do a stealth math problem with your kids. Ask them why the two sides have to be shorter than the other parts to make a perfect cube.